Returning and New years resolutions!

 New Years Resolutions for 2022!! 

Well, here I go again, sat at the desk or rather this time my mothers dining room table typing this up and hoping for a healthier 2022.  Ok, so this has been terrible... I know i've not done many blog posts this year and I am hoping as always to do more as one of my many resolutions as well as the obvious to losing weight and trying not to catch Covid!!  As I type this the winds blowing outside and we've had temp at about -2 degrees some days here.  A bit warmer now.  Just a quick one as I am trying to think and prepare a post to do with Fox Hunting, yes it's Illegal and and still happens even though they say its so called Trail Hunting.  Untill that post stay well and safe and Happy New Year!!! 

Euans Guide and Red Cord Cards

 Euan's Guide

So, yet again I've been neglecting my blog posts with a mixture of health and busy-ness! :O I keep meaning to log these things down on paper to put on my blog.  Anyway a while ago I did a rather stupidly short post on Euan's Guide and their red cord cards and thought I'd re do it as it didn't really do them any justice! So here goes.

Euan's guide is a Disability Access Review website found at www.euansguide.com (for some reason Rae can't get the link button working so it will have to be a copy and paste situation sorry about that one).  Founded by Euan McDonald MBE and co founded with his sister Kiki in 2013.  Ok, so this is going to be another copy and paste as I don't want to get any nouns, grammar and names wrong but according to their website: After his Motor Neurone Disease (MND) diagnosis in 2003, Euan moved from London back to Edinburgh to be with his family and fundraise for MND research. In 2006, Euan and his father Donald established the Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research, and helped to set up the Voicebank Project, which is today known as Speak:Unique.

Ten years after his diagnosis, Euan’s Guide was launched by Euan and his sister Kiki as a place for disabled people, their families, friends and carers to share their knowledge of accessible places to go. The award-winning charity is based in Scotland and used by disabled people all over the UK and beyond.

Euan and Kiki work in the Old Town of Edinburgh alongside their team: a friendly bunch who are passionate about accessibility.

About Euan's Guide:

We all navigate the world in different ways. Euan’s Guide makes it easier for disabled people to find great places to go. We all want to get out there and enjoy life, and having good quality disabled access information reduces unnecessary hassle, inspires confidence and removes fear of the unknown.

Euansguide.com is the disabled access review site where disabled people, their family, friends and carers can find and share reviews on the accessibility of venues around the UK and beyond. The site is an invaluable tool for everything from planning a day out, to picking a last-minute place for coffee or lunch.

We believe in making the world more accessible one review at a time. There are now thousands of disabled access reviews and listing on Euan’s Guide. With good accessibility information being so hard to find, one review is often enough to encourage others to visit. Euan’s Guide is opening the door for more people to find new and exciting places to go. Reviews are also sent to venue owners and this can be a positive and powerful opportunity for education and change.

The charity was founded in 2013 by Euan MacDonald MBE, a powerchair user and his sister Kiki after Euan was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease and a lack of disabled access made everyday experiences stressful. By breaking down the barriers of exclusion with the help of other people in the same situation, Euan’s Guide hopes to give everyone the freedom to explore.

There is a survey currently going on as of October 2021.  https://www.euansguide.com/access-survey again a copy and paste situation. If anyone wants a go.  I am also a wearer of the sunflower lanyard which is also a must see and read.  Until next time and hope this helps people and the info.  Rae.

Fox not getting mine! (Hedgehog 🦔)

A clip on Brackley Hog Watchcaused it to go viral well be Shared lots! Pictures a hedgehog running off with a chicken drumstick away from a fox. 

Hedgehog Heros🦔

A Durham Rescue Centre has been nominated and awarded Spike Hedgehog Foods Hero Award by Bev Stoker via FB. WELL DONE DAVE!! Not to mention his famous bald (now not!) Hedgehog 🦔 Keith. 

Dave's rescue post

Euan's guide & Reviews

 Hello all!

Today's post is about a website, a group of people, a charity called Euan's guide.  That help disabled people via disability access reviews.  People write reviews on their website of places that they have visited and encourage others to do so as well.  Although it's not just about the reviews, well it is but there are also the "Red Cord Cards" .... You know the Red Cords that hang down from the disabled loos well, every disabled loo should really have one! ... the cards attach to them letting people know that they should hang loose.  Trust me I've seen a few that haven't... shockingly, along with Raydar keys the keys for disabled public loos some of the locks and cords are broken and out of use. I wonder if there is anything called disabled access activists...ohhhh I could tell of you of a few places lol! Anyways! 

https://www.euansguide.com/ is the link to their website to have a look on and if you go right to the bottom to the little foot menu it will mention the red cord cards i was on about.  =Rae

Free Landing and Aldwalk Bridge, North Yorkshire

 Rae's curiosity lead her to...

Aldwalk Bridge...

There has been a river crossing here for hundreds of years - the area once called Rudford Wath, wath meaning a fordable stream - and a ferry once ran between the banks. However, it was dangerous and unreliable in the winter weather, and in 1772 an Act of Parliment was granted to John Thompson of nearby Kirby Hall to build a bridge.

Today, this is the perfect spot to enjoy a picnic, or just res and watch the river traffic flow by.  Nowadays, the commercial traffic has been replaced by pleasure craft such as powerful cruisers and jolly narrowboats.  Keep an eye open for the damselflies, such as the banded damoselle.  You might even be lucky enough to spot a brilliantly-coloured kingfisher and you will almost certainly see noisy groups of mallard.  The wild flowers have been a picture in spring and summer in this area.  

This has long been a popular site for fisherman who seak out roach, perch, barbel and pike.  Thompson agreed on condition that the bridge remained in private hands - and today the Aldwalk Bridge remains one of the only eight privately owned toll crossings in the country.  Costing 40p to get across well as of May 2021!  The stury iron crossing you see today was opened on 6th April 1877 two years after the first bridge, designed by Harewood House architect John Carr, fell into the water.

Serene as the scene is today this was the site of a tragedy where in 1810 you men stood on the bridge to watch ice floes speeding beneath on the flood water.  In their excitement, they raced from one side of the bridge to the other - tracgically the railing gave way and 13 fell into the water.  But only one of the bodies was ever found. 

Nun Monkton and Geocaching

 Nun Monkton & Geocaching

Situated over the river bank from Beningborough Hall and gardens, Nun Monkton is one of the rather up market  little area of North Yorkshire.  It's a village with a civil parish in the Harrogate district of our area.  It's situated about 8/9 miles outside the city of York about North Westish from the city.  The village is at the confluence of the rivers Ouse and Nidd, with cottages and houses which are grouped around the village green and the 'pub / restaurant' The Alice Hawthorn. The Alice Hawthorn .  (see link in blue!)

 

The Geocaches there were on a nice route but hard to get to if you didn't know the right foot path which was annoying as we seemed to be searching everywhere, with no luck.  It's nice for a walk around near the river though when you get to where your wanting to end up... 

The church in Nun Monkton is St Mary's Church an Episcopal church in the village.  Postcode if your wishing to park nearby the area and telephone number if your of the Christian Religion and visiting the area are: YO26 8ES and 01423 331142

Lovely Church to visit and was nice and cool on such a hot day when we visited.  

Until next post, Rae.